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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

While most mainstream acts were very disappointing, 2013 was a good year for under-the-radar pop (my favourite kind). Without further a do, I'm happy to present the 45 songs that made me happy this year. Now can we please have proper Robyn & amazing Kylie comebacks in 2014?

I've made a handy Spotify playlist of the 45 tracks (minus 6 -including my #1- which are not on Spotify, because why the hell would they be?).

45/ Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines feat. T.I. & Pharell Williams

So catchy, yet so annoying. But so catchy.

44/ Avec Sans - Hold On

Keep these guys on your radar, they have "amazing" written all over.Other songs worthy of your attention: Shiver, The Answer, Heartbreak High (lots of free stuff on their Soundcloud).

43/ Jeremie Whistler - Cold Heart

It's not often something this good comes from France. So ENJOY. Get it for free here.

If you don't understand French, now's a good time to start learning (or use Google Translation).

39/ Diana Vickers - Cinderella

As if any song on Katy Perry's latest shit album was in any way as good as this. Great choice, people.Other songs worthy of your attention:Boy In Paris, Lighning Strikes

38/ MS MR - Think Of You

In a parallel universe, 2013 was their year, this song is a proper hit and the video has more views than that of a cat that hiccups and farts at the same time.Other songs worthy of your attention: the whole album "Secondhand Rapture"

37/ Hurts - Cupid
The only song on the second Hurts album that really did something for me. But it did a lot.

24/ One Direction - Story Of My Life
Come here HarryZaynLouisLiamwhoever, I'll tell you the story of my life in details. (Seriously: that's how you do a "song Mums, Dads and elder brothers will like without even noticing" boyband song.)Other songs worthy of your attention: Best Song Ever, Midnight Memories

23/ Union J - Carry You

A typical case of "didn't do as well as it should have because the guys were wearing too much make up in the video".

22/ Britney Spears - Work Bitch
She's Britney, she can do anything she wants, even have only one good song on her new album and sing in funny accents. WITH SHARKS IN THE VIDEO!!

21/ Arthur Beatrice - Carter (Cut)

Their debut album will probably the first thing I'll fall in love with in 2014.Other songs worthy of your attention: anything you can find!

20/ Amelia Lily - Shut Up (And Give Me Whatever You Got)
A great example of "Amazing post-Girls Aloud Xenomania song that should have been a Girls Aloud Song a Nadine Coyle song".

19/ Ciara - Livin' It Up feat. Nicki Minaj

I'm as surprised as the next man with this: a Ciara + Nicki Minaj song at #19. BUT IT'S SO SLUTTY GOOD

18/ Justin Timberlake - Mirrors

There might be one really good song on all of JT's 20/20 borathon of a double album, but this one's classic Justin. Even if it's 23 minutes long.

17/ Linnea Dale - A Room in a City

Is there some kind of magic barrier that prevents songs this amazing to spread out of Norway and be massive all over the world??!

16/ Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball

I'm very sorry to be featuring Miley twice in this top 45 thing, but this song has the best verses of the year.

15/ Little Boots - Satellite

You can always count on Little Boots to deliver brilliant pop tunes and this one is the most brilliant on her second album Nocturnes, which contains a lot more brilliant tunes.

In the "rock band making incredible moody song" game, these guys came and won.

Bonus: this video of the song, shot by La Blogotheque in Paris' townhall library is splendid.

12/ Annie - Back Together

Her latest EP, recorded with Richard X (RICHARD X!!!), was totally worth the wait. Once again, Norway proved they have "awesomeness" written in their DNA (D-D-D-DNA). Warning: the video contains a Girls Aloud moment.

Perfectly-produced-ambitious-yet-super-accessible girlband tune? I'M HERE! And it's only their second album.

#1 MUTYA KEISHA SIOBHAN - FLATLINE

MKS teased and teased. For months. Then they properly came back. With this song. A perfect pop song with a chorus as big as the anticipation they'd created. It was a relief to hear that they perfected the Sugababes 1.0 formula and showed that this wait wasn't all for nothing. Their London show in November truly was a life moment.

Let's forget the disastrous strategy surrounding the release of this instant classic and let's focus on what's (hopefully) to come: an gem-filled album that will re-establish these ladies where they belong: on top of the pop game.